SLE is associated with high prevalence of metabolic syndrome and obesity, which can be related to the high risk of cardiovascular events in this group of patients. Visceral adipose tissue (VAT) correlates more accurately with cardiovascular risk factors than other measures of adiposity. The aim of this study was to evaluate VAT in premenopausal SLE patients compared to controls.

This study provides original evidence that SLE is associated with altered adiposity distribution and increased visceral adipose tissue. The observed correlation with CRP levels, independent of disease activity, suggests the role of visceral fat as an additional risk factor for cardiovascular events in SLE patients. Longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm the long-term effect of VAT in cardiovascular events in SLE.